9 books to help children overcome challenges

My nanna used to say, ​“I may be alone but I’m never lonely.”

This was always a great example of strength to me. My nanna was a deep and thoughtful person who loved nothing more than bringing out the boxes of family photos and telling stories. My nanna thrived from her independence and genuinely seemed to like and trust herself – she was kind to herself. 

She treated herself to fancy restaurants for lunch and solo holidays with nothing more than a book (she was a big reader!) I once remember speaking to her on the phone when she was about to watch a film on the TV: ​“Got to have popcorn with a movie!”

This to me was an act of pure true strength. Nanna accepted herself, just like Bean’s Nanna in my story I Am Strong Just Being Me (illustrated by Kip Alizadeh). 

I Am Strong Just Being Me is an illustrated poem about the ways we can use and celebrate our own unique and individual strengths to show up for ourselves. 

Using nature as a metaphor, Bean and their Nanna explore a beautiful wild garden and marvel at how nature always finds a way through and so can we. Just like nature does, we can use our creativity and flexibility to adapt and reimagine ourselves to overcome tough times. 

When I was a little girl, I thought I had to grow up to be a ​‘strong woman’. But when I faced my own difficult challenge in life, a time of illness, I waited for that ​‘strong woman’ to appear like a warrior ready for battle and rescue me. Sadly, I often found myself feeling more Worrier than Warrior. 

So I spent a lot of that time in the quiet; retreating, waiting to feel better, and, when I was able to, reading books. A lot of books. Books are our strength. 

Sharing stories, living to tell the tale, and passing on stories of survival and overcoming challenges are a powerful and necessary part of recovery and the human experience. 

I gobbled up so many stories of humans finding and learning their own strength in their own unique ways – whether that be riding out a storm or self-soothing, resting or forgiveness – and, just like with Nanna, the word ​‘strong’ appeared, but not in the traditional way. For me, I learned that strength wasn’t found in ​‘fighting’ but ​‘floating’ instead. 

Often the things we find most difficult to write and speak about shine through in books for children. And reading to my son at night, tackling these often tricky topics, I see that books find a way in – as they always do. 

Love from Alfie Mcpoonst, The Best Dog Ever by Dawn McNiff & Patricia Metola 

This is such a beautiful take on grief and acceptance. Deeply moving and quietly heart-breaking, this soothing book shows light and shade and masterfully handles the experience of loss with tenderness and humour. P.S. I can’t read the last line without crying! 

I don’t think I’ve ever written a list of children’s books and not included Michael Rosen’s Sad Book. If reading it aloud, I still can’t get through the book in one go without my voice breaking. Raw, subtle and timeless, Rosen’s words don’t hide or decorate the painful truth of loss and Blake’s bleak and watery illustrations give the effect that the book has been tear-stained. It’s a book that lives in my heart. 

Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire by Flavia Z. Drago 

A fantastically illustrated and joyous read about a self-accepting vampire who learns to love his unique differences, celebrating his strengths in his own way. 

I adore this original and unique text of expression and creativity. It’s super authentic. 

The Balcony by Melissa Castrillion 

The Balcony is a gorgeous showcase of nature and life, working as one. Expansive and delicious, open up The Balcony and let your imagination fly. 

A Lion in Paris by Beatrice Alemagna 

A strange and cold, scratchy book, but it has to be as it’s reflecting Lion’s loneliness, which comes through in the grey pages of a busy city as it challenges what we perceive to be ​‘big and strong’. The shape of it is HUGE – it’s like sitting inside a theatre, which only enhances the experience of feeling ​‘small’. 

Again, this book comes up for me time and time again. A heart-wrenching story of mental illness and courage. 

A beautifully written thriller, the narrative is just gorgeous and you fall right in but I’ve chosen it for the powerful individualism and loyalty of loveable Sally Jones. 

Let the Light Pour In by Lemn Sissay 

All of Lemn Sissay’s work is life-affirming, powerful, playful and addictive, as Lemn is as a person. I had the pleasure of watching Lemn read live from this wonderful collection on a rainy day and physically saw him pour the sunshine light in, in real time. His words leap off the page and spark so much magic and reassurance. 

My nanna encouraged my writing and sadly, I lost her whilst writing I Am Strong Just Being Me. But I am so lucky I got to be her friend for so much of my life to remind me that we can learn a lot from nature and animals, to be comfortable in my own company, and that, of course, you can’t watch a movie without popcorn. 

I Am Strong Just Being Me by Laura Dockill, illustrated by Kip Alizadeh, is available now.